Automatic traffic signal switch



Feb. 9, 1937. c. M. RUSHING AUTOMATIC TRAFFIC SIGNAL SWITCH Filed April 28, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l C'Zyde M Hus/un as r? Feb. 9, 1937. c M, RUSHlNG 1 2,070,454

AUTOMATIC TRAFFIC SIGNALSWITGH Filed April 28, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WWW Patented Feb. 9, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to an electric traflic signalling mechanism and more particularly to a switch used in connection therewith.-

It is aimed to provide a novel means whereby 5 adjacent traflic, pedestrian as well as vehicular, may be apprised of contemplated turns or maneuvers, to increase the safety attending walking and the operation of automobiles.

It is further aimed to provide a novel construc- 10 tion which may be readily built into an automobile or other self-propelled vehicle at the factory, as well as form an attachment for existing constructions.

It is further aimed to provide a novel switch 15 which may be manually operated to indicate in advance of a turn, the direction of such turn and further to provide means whereby the switch will be automatically restored to normal condition after the turn has been made.

20 The more specific objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the description following taken in connection with accompanying drawings illustrating an operative embodiment.

25 In said drawings:-

Figure 1 is a plan view of an automobile equipped with my improvements;

Figure 2 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation illustrating the improvements;

30 Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the plane of line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a view substantially similar to Fig- 35 ure 3, parts being in section to show details;

Figure 6 is a view substantially similar to Figure 5 but showing the switch in position to indicate a right turn;

Figure '1 is a sectional view taken on the line 40 1-1 of Figure 5; and

Figure 8 is an electrical diagram of the parts. Referring specifically to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate like or similar parts, i represents a conventional automo- 3 bile, self-propelled vehicle or the equivalent having one or more signals l I on the right hand side thereof and one or more signals l2 on the left hand side thereof. The signals Ii and I2 may be mounted in any suitable manner but prefer- 30 ably at the front or mounted on the fenders and at the rear may be mounted either on the fenders, on the rear stop light brackets or otherwise. These signals are preferably electric lamps, those at II for instance being colored green while those 55 at 12 being colored yellow. The energy for the lamps II and I2 is obtained from a battery H which may be the usual starting, lighting and ignition battery of the vehicle i3. One pole of the battery has a conductor I leading therefrom to contacts i6 and I1. Adjacent the contacts I6 5 and i1 are contacts l3 and I9, from which conductors 20 and 2i lead to the signals at the left of the vehicle and those at the right, respectively, one pole of each signal being grounded to the frame of the vehicle as shown.

At a desirable location along the steeri g column 22 of the vehicle, a casing 23 is positioned, being securely clamped or otherwise secured in place as at 24.

In corners of the casing 23, suitably insulated from each other are the aforesaid contacts, those at H and I9 being in one corner and those at l6 and 18 being in the other corner. Blocks of insulation 25 and 23 preferably mount such contacts and they have binding posts 21 extending through the insulation and by means of which they are connected rigidly in place. To the binding post 21, the conductor wires [5, 20 and 2| are connected as specifically shown in Figure 8.

A toggle lever or button 29 projects through an enlarged opening 30 in one end of the casing 23, the lever being pivoted as at 3| within the casing. Extending from one block 25 to the block 26 and suitably fastened thereto is a spring bar 32 having a depressed portion 33 which is engaged by a 30 roller 34 pivoted at 35 on the lever 29. The roller is frictionally engaged by the spring and will hold the lever 29 in the intermediate position shown in Figure 5, in the position shown in Figure 6, or in a position at the opposite angle to Figure 6. 5

Metallic contact arms 36 and 31 are pivoted at 33 and 39 to the lever 29, which contact arms are normally disengaged from the contacts [6 to I9. However the contact arm 36 is adapted for engagement with the contacts l6 and I3 when the 40 lever 29 is thrown to the right as in Figure 6 to indicate a right hand turn and the contact arm 31 is engageable with the contacts I! and I9 to indicate a left hand turn when the lever is thrown to the left, the opposite to the position shown in Figure 6. In a recess 40 in the lever 29, a contractile coil spring 4| is disposed which normally maintains the contact arms 36 and 31 in the position shown in Figure 5 and which yieldingly main- 5o tains such contact arms in engagement with their contacts l6 and I! or II and i9. respectively. The

spring ll also maintains such contact arms 36 and 31 in a projected position so that they may be engaged by means to automatically restore the lever 29 to normal position thus cutting out the signals.

To the end last mentioned, the steering wheel 42 or other suitable turning part of the steering apparatus or mechanism has two lugs or projections 43 and 44 extending therefrom In the event it is. desired to make a right hand turn, the operator will manually move the lever 29 to the right as shown in Figure 6 wherein the contact arm 36 engages the contacts l6 and I8 and the other contact arm 31 is moved into the path of one of the projections 44. As a result, when the steering wheel or other moving part of the steering apparatus has been moved and the right hand turn effected, pin 44 will engage the arm 31, forcibly, displacing the lever and causing it to snap back to the normal position 0! Figure 5. On the other hand, if lever 29 is moved to the left for a contemplated left hand turn, the contact arm 31 will engage the contacts I! and I9 establishing signalling circuits through the lamps I I and disposing the contact arm 36 in the path of movement of the projection or lug 43 to the end that when the left hand turn is completed, such lug 43 will forcibly engage the contact arm 36, moving and causing the lever 29 to snap back to the normal position of Figure 5, cutting out the signals.

It will be realized that the invention provides a means whereby a signal of the contemplated turn or maneuver may be given in advance of the actual turning movement of the vehicle, greatly increasing safety of operation.

Various changes may be resorted to provided they fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim as my invention l. A device of the class described having contact means, a second contact means, said contact means being adapted to close circuits through signals, a lever, a closing contact arm for one contact means, a closing contact arm for the other contact means, said contact arms being pivoted to the lever, means urging the contact arms to positions for engagement with the respective contact means according to the direction of move- I ment of said lever, in combination with a turnable part to engage one arm while the other arm is in circuit closing position, and vice versa, to restore the lever to normal position, blocks carrying the contact means, a spring bar to maintain the lever in difierent positions secured to said blocks, a binding post securing the contact means to the blocks, said bar having a depression, and said lever having a roller pivoted thereto and co-acting with the depression.

2. A device of the class described having contact means, a second contact means, said contact means being adapted to close circuits through signals, a. lover, a closing contact arm for one contact means, a closing contact arm for the other contact means, said contact arms being pivoted to the lever, means urging the contact arms to positions for engagement with the respective contact means according to the direction tractile spring within the lever engaging opposite 3 ends of the contact arms.

r CLYDE M. BUSHING. 

